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New Science Standards: It's not WHY or WHEN, but "HOW"

Last week 1,800 excited teachers descended on Palm Springs
for the 2013 CSTA science conference. Every session focused on the Next
Generation Science Standards was packed!

I learned volumes listening as teachers shared questions and ideas. I heard
very few "why" questions - everyone understands why NGSS is
being implemented. Most of the questions I heard were "how".
Conference attendees wanted practical tools to launch NGSS in their classrooms.
During he RAFT session, I was honored to present to a standing-room-only crowd.
Amazingly, the eager audience built four RAFT kits in under one hour. In
addition to asking questions, teachers shared solutions of their own. They
described creative ways to apply RAFT-style learning in their classrooms.
Project-based learning, inquiry-based instruction, and design challenge
thinking are at the forefront now. The teachers were answering the
"how" question for themselves!

At the conference, it was also interesting to
learn about new technologies that have wonderful ties to RAFT. For example, one
teacher assigns his students to write "TEDitorials" (personal
commentaries on TED video presentations). This simple assignment has
driven student interest in science. It is motivating young people to use
science practices, think critically, do research, make cogent arguments and
apply other 21st century skills. In a different session, teachers learned
to use "Scratch" - a programming tool that is ideal for designing
simple games. RAFT already has a Scratch version of one kit, and we would
like to have many more! (Let me know if you are interested in Scratch.)

As a RAFT member, you are well on your way to answering the HOW question for
yourself. We are here to help, and also to be inspired by you!

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